CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Beeches Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place, including safe PPE use, testing, cleaning, ventilation and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured by the home's infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 10 February 2021. It looked at how the home was preventing and controlling COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, testing staff and residents, following social distancing and shielding rules, and managing possible outbreaks. They also found the premises clean, with good ventilation and frequent cleaning of surfaces.
The home had stopped in-person visits at that time, but offered phone, tablet, window and planned garden-pod visits. Staff also supported people with dementia to stay in touch and continued activities.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate rating for the service.
PPE and staff training
The home had enough PPE and staff had been trained to put it on and remove it safely.
“The home had purchased adequate amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure that staff could protect themselves and people living in the home.” from the report
Keeping in touch
Although in-person visits were not taking place, the home offered several ways for residents to contact important people. Staff also supported people with dementia to use these options.
“Currently visitors were unable to visit in person so staff had set up different ways in which people could stay in touch with those who are important to them.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the premises clean and communal areas ventilated. High-touch areas were cleaned frequently.
“The premises looked clean throughout and communal areas were ventilated.” from the report
Testing arrangements
All staff had PCR and lateral flow tests. Staff who tested positive were supported to isolate at home.
“All staff undertook both PCR and lateral flow tests in order to protect the people they cared for.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for family visits, and is the visiting pod still used?
- 02How are staff and residents currently tested for infections?
- 03How often are high-touch areas cleaned, and how is this checked?
- 04How is PPE training kept up to date for all staff?
- 05What are the home's current ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 April 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2018
The Beeches Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a small medicines guidance issue.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 6 November 2018. Two inspectors reviewed records, staff files, medicines, recruitment, training and quality monitoring. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals, and observed care.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable training, good dementia care, clean surroundings, personalised support, regular activities and good access to health professionals.
The home was also part of a national review of oral health support in care homes. Inspectors suggested making handrails easier to see and said further pharmacist guidance would improve the safety of crushing medicines. The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection in May 2016.
Kind dementia care
Staff responded sensitively when people were distressed and knew how to communicate with them. Inspectors observed respectful, emotionally supportive care.
“The quality of interaction between staff and people was excellent.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were appropriate and observed requests being answered promptly. People did not have to wait long for help.
“Our observations in the different lounges found sufficient staff available to meet people's needs promptly.” from the report
Activities and community links
People had daily activities, one-to-one support and regular contact with community groups. The home’s location also helped people access local shops and services.
“There were events and interesting activities each day both within groups and for one to one support for people who needed this.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people’s needs, routines and preferences. People and their families were involved in reviewing care.
“Care plans were detailed and contained clear information about people's specific needs, their personal preferences, routines and how staff should best support them to live happy, contented lives.” from the report
Good food and healthcare
People had home-cooked food with choices and support for special diets. They were registered with healthcare professionals and supported to attend appointments.
“People were given a choice of menu.” from the report
Further medicines guidance needed
needs fixingCovert medicines were managed appropriately, but inspectors said the home needed further pharmacist guidance to make sure crushed medicines were safe.
“Covert medicines were appropriately managed, but further guidance from a pharmacist would ensure safety of medicines being crushed.” from the report
Handrails could be easier to see
minorInspectors suggested painting the handrails in a contrasting colour so they would be more visible to people.
“We made a suggestion to paint handrails a contrasting colour to the walls to make them more visible to people.” from the report
- 01What pharmacist advice is now in place about crushing medicines, including covert medicines?
- 02Have the handrails been painted in a contrasting colour, and if not, when will this happen?
- 03How will you assess and support my relative’s oral hygiene and access to dental care?
- 04How often will my relative’s care plan be reviewed, and how will the family be involved?
- 05What activities and community visits would be suitable for my relative’s interests and abilities?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and included a detailed review of oral health support as part of a national review. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 November 2018 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of The Beeches Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at The Beeches Residential Home →
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Beeches Residential Home →
- May 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.